Ferric alloy process



Aug. 10, 1937.

P. M. PAYNE FERRIC ALLOY PROCESS Filed Sept. 1, 1936 INVENTOR. PEARSON M84 Y/Y.

Patented Aug. 10, I937- memo my rnocass :pez a n Pam, Denver; @010-Appiication sc 'ateiniaer 3 1' a: i run;

hold the alloys in suspension and prevent them from entering the metalin definite uniform amounts. Attempts have been made to glow the alloysinto the molten metal in the cupola. These attempts have beenunsatisfactory and uncertain in operation due to the adherence of thealloys to the slag and furnace lining.

The most common practise is to add crushed or granulated alloys in apre-determined amount to the stream of metal flowing from the cupola.This method is unsatisfactory due to the fact that some of the alloyswill oxidize on the surface of the stream; other portions will floatalong on the stream to the surface of the ladle and there becomesuspended in the slag or attached to the ladle lining. Those portionswhich float upon the iron in the ladle may act to alloy only the upperportion of the molten metal in the layer, and do not mix with thereinder of the metal therein.

The only satisfactory way so far of even approximating a uniformpredetermined mixture of the alloys is to place them either in thestream from the cupola or in the receiving ladle, thence pour the metalhack and forth from one ladle to another to obtain a completeintermixture. This is a tedious, time consuming, expensive opera- .tionand the final results are not always uniform due to the fact that all ofthe metal is not poured from either of the ladies and to the adherenceof the alloys to the gummy slag in the ladies and on their linings.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a process ormethod for adding alloys whereby an absolute and positive intermixtureof the alloys is obtained to produce iron or steel of a definiteanalysis.

Another object of the invention is to provide efficient means forcarrying out the above process.

Other objects and advantages reside in the improved process and in themeans employed in the process. These will become more apparent from thefollowing description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is hadto the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numeralsrefer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout thedescription.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the process in operation withwhat will be herein termed a digesting ladle.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the ladle employed in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 a'rediagrammatic views illustrating alternate meansfor carrying out the improved process.

Briefly,- the process comprises allowing the metal and the alloys tofallor flow into a comparatively narrow receiving channel from thebottom of which the combined metal and allcys will be forced, by theweight of the column of metal in the receiving channel, into a receivingchamber below the surface of the metal therein.

The impact of the falling stream of metal and the velocity of the flowin the relatively restricted vertical channel immediately submerges thealloy particles as they melt, and forces them downward with the streamof incoming metal. Th melting alloys are immediately submerged, have noopportunity for surface floating or stratifying, and become intimatelymixed with the metal in the receiving compartment below the surface ofthe metal inthe latter. Hence, the alloy particles are made to pass,submerged, through'a long distance of hot metal, clear of slag, so thatthey are completely melted by the time that they reach the receivingchamber. The swirling action of the metal entering the receiving chamberserves to emciently mix the alloys with all of the metal in the latter.Convection currents in the receiving chamber still further intermix themetal and the alloys.

The process may be carried out with any means which provide therestricted vertical receiving channel; the submerged outlet; and thereceiving chamber for submerging the outlet.

Several such means are indicated on the accompanying drawing.

In Fig. 1, a. typical cupola is indicated at It, its spout at H, and anydesired alloy feeder at l2. A ladle E8 of special construction, issuspended from a hoist It before the spout ii.

The ladle i3 is provided with a pouring spout E5 of the tea pot typehaving an outlet passageiG communicating with a bottom outlet ll. Such apouring spout is common foundry practice and acts as a skimmer to skimthe slag from the ladle metal.

n the opposite side of the ladle a vertical 2 a,oso,ssa'

receiving channel II is formed communicating with the ladle ll below thesurface of the metal therein through a submerged inlet II.

It can be readily seen that the alloys entering 5 from the feeder I!will fall with considerable velocity with the iron into the channel Hwhere they will be forced below the surface of the metal and violentlyagitated by the falling iron so that they will quickly become fluid andintermix therewith. They will then flow through the inlet ll into theladle l3. completely below the surface therein so that they can notbecome stopped by any floating surface materials such as slag, etc.

When the ladle is poured, the iron must flow in completely acrossbeneath the surface which still further intermixes the alloys. Thus aperfect mixture having the analysis desired is uniformly delivered fromthe spout ll.

In Fig. 3, the process is illustrated applied to 2 a forehearth. In suchcases a stationary forehearth is placed before the cupola and providedwith a vertical receiving channel II. The metal is drawn to a receivingladle 23 by the removal of a plug 24. The same principle of op- 25oration is embodied herein.

In Fig. 4, the invention is applied to a continuous flow spout of the"skimming arch" type having a relatively deep U-shaped channel 28 whichprovides a vertical receiving channel and 30 a reservoir, similar to theother types. The action of the process in this type is similar to theother types.

In Fig. 5, still another means of carrying out the process isillustrated in which a vertical refractory tube 28 is inserted into aladle I! to receive the metal from the cupola spout. It can be readilyseen that this will accomplish the same results as the other methods.

Still another method of employing the process is to use an ordinarytea-pot" ladle and to turn the pouring spout around beneath the cupoiaspout so that it becomes temporarily a receiving spout. After filling,the ladle is turned to use the filling spout for a pouring spout.

In all the above means for carrying out the process, the same principleor process is involved. that of allowing the metal and the alloys toflow into a restricted, substantially vertical, receiving channel,thence forcing the mixture to a receiving chamber through a submergedpassage. 5 While preferred forms of the invention have been described insome detail together with the theories which it is believed to bestexplain its success, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the precise procedure described 10 nor is dependent upon theaccuracy of the theories which have been advanced. On the contrary, theinvention is not to be regarded as limited except in so far as suchlimitations are included with the terms'of the accompanying claims 16 inwhich it is the intention to claim all novelty inherent in the inventionas broadly as it is permissible in view of the prior art.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired,secured by Letters Patent l. A process of intermixing alloys with metalcomprising: flowing the molten metal and the alloys into a comparativelyrestricted vertical passage, thence flowing adjacent the lower extremityof said passage into a receiving chamber below the fluid surfacethereof.

2. A process of intermixing alloys with metal comprising: allowing themolten metal and the 30 alloys to fall together into a receiving passageand thence allowing the mixture to rise from a point below the surfacein an adjacent compartmfil'it. 1 I

3. A process of intermixing alloys with metal 35 comprising: allowingthe metal to flow from a cupola spout into a substantially vertical,comparatively restricted passage; adding alloys to the stream of metalprior to its entry into said passage; simultaneously forcing the mixturec alloys and metal from the bottom of said passage into an adjacentcompartment below the fluid surface therein, so that said mixture willrise in said compartment from a point below the-surface.

PEARSON M. PAYNE. a

the mixture from a point 25

